It was supposed to be Letsile Tebogo’s night. The stage was set, the spotlight fixed, and the headlines pre-written for a dominant display in Rabat. But under the Moroccan lights, the 100m sprint delivered a plot twist no one saw coming. The Olympic 200m champion, who boldly declared he was chasing a 100m-200m double, was not only beaten; he was dismantled. Finishing dead last in a stacked field, Tebogo’s dream of double glory turned into a stunning stumble, while South Africa’s Akani Simbine tore through the pack to steal the show.

Simbine, who’s been on a flawless run in 2025, clocked an electric 9.95 seconds to storm to victory, brushing off challenges from Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05) and America’s Fred Kerley (10.07). But the real shock came a few meters behind them. Where Tebogo cruised in, almost jogging, with a pedestrian 10.43 seconds. He didn’t just lose. He was nowhere near the fight.

For someone who’d confidently set the tone in the press conference, aiming to win both races, the reality on track was brutal. The contrast couldn’t have been sharper. As Simbine powered across the line with arms raised and unbeaten streak intact, Tebogo looked like a man saving his legs for the 200m. Or one who simply didn’t have the spark. Whether it was strategy, fatigue, or just an off night, his finish at the bottom raised eyebrows.  

This was more shocking as Tebogo looked quite confident of achieving a double in Rabat. He said, “I mean, this is the first time I’m doubling in a diamond league and the first time… I mean, winning both races will be a good night for me, but I don’t want to put myself under that pressure.” And that was not all. There was a big problem that Tebogo wanted to fix. “But the hundreds, they still have a few things that need to be fixed, which we are going to see if we have corrected in the past few days,” added Tebogo.

And surely, things did not get fixed. This wasn’t just any 100m race. It featured heavy hitters, yes, but the expectation was that Tebogo would at least challenge for the podium. Instead, he faded from the frame entirely. For Simbine, the win adds another jewel to his glittering season. For Tebogo, it’s a jolting wake-up call. The Rabat Diamond League was meant to be his launchpad.

Instead, it’s turned into a narrative he wasn’t ready for, one where he’s chasing redemption, not glory. Soon, the fans were flocking to the comments section to chime in with their two cents.

Letsile Tebogo stuns fans with shocking last-place finish in Rabat 100m

Following the defeat of Tebogo, track enthusiasts have been sharing their two cents on their social platforms. Letsile Tebogo’s decision to double in Rabat raised eyebrows after his sluggish 10.43 finish left fans wondering, “Why did Letsile Tebogo even run the 100m?” His last-place showing suggested either a strategic misfire or a lack of preparedness, undermining his earlier statements about aiming high.

The contrast between his pre-race ambition and actual execution made the entire effort feel misplaced. His 100m effort, or lack thereof, sparked comparisons, with one fan saying, “Letsile Tebogo is just a wannabe Usain Bolt.” The comment pointed directly at his seeming disengagement mid-race, where he faded badly despite being in top shape. 

In a field where competitors pushed until the end, Tebogo appeared to coast, triggering criticism for entering such a stacked race if he wasn’t all-in. With Akani Simbine storming to a 9.95 win, the disbelief over Tebogo’s poor form came through in the reaction, “Hebana…what happened with Letsile Tebogo? Also, Akani is in superb form.” Such a comment from the fan emphasized just how sharp Simbine looked compared to Tebogo, whose run lacked intensity and rhythm.

The juxtaposition only amplified the disappointment in Letsile’s showing. The emotional sting of watching Tebogo trail the entire pack came out in, “Tebogo, what happened? 😕… let’s do better!” Such a reaction mixes concern with encouragement, as the fan struggles to reconcile the elite sprinter’s potential with such a flat performance. It shows the frustration of seeing a favorite under-deliver when expectations were sky-high.

As speculation grew over his intent, one fan suggested, “Not a good start for Tebogo, and he easily gave up without effort, maybe the target is the 200m later!” The notion that he was saving energy for the 200m tries to rationalize the underperformance. But in a race where every athlete came to win, that mindset felt out of place, especially for someone who declared his aim to win both events.